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Mayor Brown: November write-in campaign 'under serious consideration'

'Mayor Brown is weighing this outpouring of support from across the city and region and taking this suggestion under serious consideration,' his campaign said.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has been asked about what comes next ever since Tuesday night's loss in the Democratic primary.

On Friday, his campaign said a write-in effort is under consideration.

"Hundreds of people have contacted the mayor to ask him to run as a write-in candidate in November, including Carl Paladino. An equal number of people have offered to financially contribute to such an effort," Mayor Brown's campaign said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

"The mayor has thanked all of the people who have contacted him for their outreach and support, and their belief that the City of Buffalo needs strong, experienced and consistent leadership in the Mayor's office. Currently, Mayor Brown is weighing this outpouring of support from across the city and region and taking this suggestion under serious consideration."

On Tuesday, he said he would make sure every vote was counted.

On Thursday, when asked about the feasibility of a write-in campaign by a 2 On Your Side photojournalist after throwing out the first pitch at Blue Jays game at Sahlen Field, he did not respond.

In response to a potential write-in campaign by Brown, Seamus Gallivan, spokesperson for the India Walton campaign, released the following statement:

"Buffalonians went to the polls on Tuesday and elected India Walton as our next mayor. Our campaign is grateful for the outpouring of support we’ve received, from local leaders like Congressman Brian Higgins, Senator Sean Ryan, Assemblyman Jon Rivera, and Erie County Democratic Committee Chair Jeremy Zellner, to national figures like Senator Bernie Sanders, and we are committed to working with anyone else willing to work with us in service to the best interest of our beloved community," the statement read.

"While Byron Brown has every right to pursue a write-in campaign backed by far-right Trump supporters like Carl Paladino, we urge him to work in the spirit of our City of Good Neighbors as we transition to a Walton Administration."

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Erie County Democratic Committee Chair Jeremy Zellner released the following statement:

"As ECDC chair, I respect the will of the Buffalo’s Democratic voters. They have spoken, loud and clear. I look forward to supporting and building a relationship with India Walton so that, working together, we can elect Democrats in critical campaigns in 2021 and going forward. We are 100% with India Walton and all our endorsed candidates on the Fall ballot."

A spokesperson with Congressman Brian Higgins' office told 2 On Your Side he would not support a write-in effort by Brown.

Sentiments shared by State Senator Sean Ryan.

"You're not going to run a campaign in the primary but you're gonna wake up and run a write-in campaign? Game's over. Move on," Ryan said.

Ryan believes Brown should finish the job he was elected to do, but he's also asking him to slow down on some things. 

Ryan added, "There's going to be demolition permits issued. There's going to be subsidies given away. What we don't want is a rush on City Hall to give away the store before January 1."

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